Entertainment
Celebrities

'I've always felt oppressed': Madonna

This file photo taken on December 9, 2016 shows Madonna attending the Billboard Women in Music 2016 event on December 9, 2016 in New York City.
Pop icon Madonna has described herself as "oppressed," saying she was tired of a gender double-standard over her relationships with younger men. The 58-year-old singer said in an interview published January 10, 2017 that she has endured criticism throughout her entire career despite her professional success. "I've always felt oppressed," she told Harper's Bazaar magazine.
/ AFP PHOTO / ANGELA WEISSANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images

Related Stories

Madonna is tired of feeling “oppressed” because she doesn’t conform to society’s expectations of women.

The 58-year-old singer, who is known for her raunchy stage antics, says that in spite of her wealth she still feels victimized as a woman due to her rejection of traditional family values.

“I’ve always felt oppressed,” she told Harper’s Bazaar magazine. “I know a lot of people would go, ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous for you to say that. You’re a successful white, wealthy pop star,’ but I’ve had the s--- kicked out of me for my entire career.’”

“And a large part of that is because I’m female and also because I refuse to live a conventional life. I’ve created a very unconventional family. I have lovers who are three decades younger than me. This makes people very uncomfortable.”

Madonna is mother to Lourdes, 20, from her relationship with Carlos Leon; Rocco, 16, from her marriage to Guy Ritchie; 11-year-old David Banda, whom she adopted with Ritchie from a Malawi orphanage; and Mercy James, 10, also adopted from Malawi. Since divorcing Ritchie in 2008, Madonna has been linked with a number of younger men, including dancers Timor Steffens and Brahim Zaibat.

Meanwhile, the star has also spoken about how her love of performing goes beyond music and film. In October last year, she presented a short stand-up comedy routine as funnywoman Amy Schumer’s warm-up act, and she claims to now be considering a comedy career.

“I’m liking the idea more and more of just standing up with a microphone and talking,” she shared. “I keep telling Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock that I’m going to do stand-up and they’d better watch out. I’m coming. I’m coming right behind them.”